VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Phones are really no ordinary phones; they are considered mobile but still needs to be connected through a wire. Its functionality is far more modern than landline and mobile phones though VoIP phones have features that can be found too in a typical landline and most cellular phones.

In landline and mobile phones, caller ID, voicemail, fax, 3-way calling, call blocking, call waiting, call forwarding, Last number redial, 411 directory, local number portability and 911 service are the most present and offered. These types of phone services may have other features aside from listed above.

With a VoIP phone service, those features enumerated above are only basic features that every device and service have. Some operators or providers do not ask any extra payment for the basic features.

For a clearer understanding of all the basic features of a VoIP phone service, here are some information to read.

CALLER ID

This is a feature that will let a receiver know the caller's number and identity. Every time your phone rings, the caller's number and identity will be displayed in the screen. Actually, only the number of the caller will appear in the phone's display screen unless otherwise, the caller is included in the saved contact entry phone memory. However, callers that have the same network provider as yours will have their name displayed on your phone every time they call.

The term for the caller ID varies according to the provider and country. In some countries, caller ID is rather termed as Caller Line Identification Presentation (CLIP), Call Line Identity (CLID) or Call Capture. Call Display is what Canadians refer to caller ID. When a caller ID is provided through ISDN phone line, it is called a Calling Line Identification or CLI for short.

VOICEMAIL

This is a good feature to busy persons that doesn't have enough time to catch all calls for the day. This is basically a recorded voice message of the caller whenever nobody answers the phone. Answering machines are the counterpart of the voicemail feature. The difference between the two is that, voicemails are saved in the network and can be retrieved through a network system, while in answering machines; voice messages are stored in the machine's memory or in older versions in a recordable tape.

Voicemail are activated when a caller reached the maximum rings programmed by the network. When the maximum allowed rings are reached, the network automatically diverts the call to the voicemail.

FAX

This feature is commonly known as IP Faxing. While landlines use its own network to send and receive fax messages, VoIP phone services utilize the internet to transmit and accept such messages. This feature works by transmitting fax data on the internet and is forwarded to fax servers. Fax servers then convert the data and are transferred to a normal telephone connection. It is then received by the party the message is sent to as a normal fax.

3-WAY CALLING